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Health & Medical


Reclaiming the Third Space - Restoring Mental Wellbeing - Opinion
The Epoch Times recently published an interesting opinion piece "Reclaiming the Third Space" that explores the concept of three distinct "places" in daily life. It draws from sociologist Ray Oldenburg's framework, and argues that clear separation between these spaces is essential for brain and emotional health through varied stimuli that regulate stress, foster belonging, and support flexible identities.

Rex Ballard
6 days ago5 min read


Shasta County Measles Outbreak Remains Contained with Eight Confirmed Cases
Health officials in Shasta County report that the ongoing measles outbreak, first identified on January 30, 2026, has resulted in eight confirmed cases, but remains contained due to effective public health measures and community cooperation.The additional cases did not lead to further community spread because patients isolated promptly upon identification as contacts. Public Health continues to monitor and notify potentially exposed individuals from the original patient's con

Elisa Ballard
Feb 112 min read


Millions of Followers Drawn Into the Pasinis’ Emotional Pregnancy Drama - Jessi and Alessio Pasini Welcome Baby Boy at Only 26+ Weeks Gestation
Alessio and Jessi Pasini are an Italian-American couple running the popular YouTube channel @ThePasinis, where they share content about cultural differences, food reactions, recipes, and personal life updates. Alessio was born in the U.S. but raised in Italy and Jessi is from Tennessee. They fell in love, and got married in 2019. They have captured the hearts of their viewers by openly documenting their 6-year infertility struggle, including multiple IVF rounds and a high-r

Elisa Ballard
Feb 63 min read


Cover-up at the Institute of Medicine?
Vitamin D, often called the "sunshine vitamin," is essential for bone health, immune function, and possibly a range of other benefits. Yet, its Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) has ignited fierce debate. Set by the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now the Health and Medicine Division of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) in a 2011

Rex Ballard
Jan 285 min read


Shasta County Backs New Medical School Plan with Unanimous Vote
Planning for a medical school that would serve the North State is continuing as the Rural Northern California Medical Education Consortium (the Consortium) gave a brief (8-minute) presentation at the Shasta County Board of Supervisors Meeting this Tuesday, January 20th. After hearing the presentation by Dr. Paul Dhanuka, Dr. Norman Hall, and Dr. Irene Salter, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to provide them a letter of support for the project, which is an important

Elisa Ballard
Jan 213 min read


U.S. Revamps the Food Pyramid: HHS Secretary RFK Jr. Unveils Bold Changes in 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines
On January 7, 2026, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alongside USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins, released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. This marks a dramatic overhaul of federal nutrition policy, reviving the iconic food pyramid format—absent since 2011—and shifting focus toward "real, whole, nutrient-dense foods. The United States is amid a health emergency. This crisis is the result of poor policy choices; i

Elisa Ballard
Jan 94 min read


CDC Reduces Number of Recommended Childhood Vaccines
The Department of Health and Human Services put out a press release on January 5th announcing the reduction in the number of recommended childhood vaccines, aligning more with peer nations. All vaccines under the old schedule will be still be available. Certain vaccines will only be recommended for high risk groups or populations and other vaccines will fall under "shared clinical decision-making", allowing for flexibility based on needs to reduce unnecessary exposure to a

Elisa Ballard
Jan 54 min read


"Safe and Effective" COVID-19 Vaccine Narrative Unraveling
Data Manipulation at the CDC and Defense Department Being Investigated -
The “safe and effective” narrative about the COVID-19 vaccines is unraveling and civil and criminal cases are being pursued, aided by several whistleblowers and new audits that have been conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the President Donald J. Trump administration.

Elisa Ballard
Jan 39 min read


Demystifying Food Dates
Food labels like "sell-by," "best-by," and "use-by" dates are ubiquitous on grocery items, yet they often sow confusion among shoppers. It is estimated that 3 billion pounds of food / year is wasted due to labeling confusion. A 2025 survey indicates that 88% households regularly discard foods at or near these dates.

Rex Ballard
Dec 31, 20256 min read


Saving Lives - NorthState Care Clinic Receives Pledge for Matching Funds of Up to $125,000
A generous and anonymous donor has offered a matching gift of up to $125,000 for NorthState Care Clinic to fund the refurbishment and to pay off the mortgage for their new facility on Victor Ave. in Redding. As reported on Nov. 9th, the NorthState Care Clinic is preparing to move from their rented Athens Avenue location in Redding to the newly-purchased facility which is located across from a clinic that provides abortion services. The NorthState Care Clinic has saved 47 liv

Elisa Ballard
Dec 29, 20251 min read


Trump's Bold Drug Price Overhaul - Most Favored Nation Policy
In a seismic shift for American healthcare, President Donald Trump's revived Most Favored Nations (MFN) policy is slashing prescription drug prices by tying them to the lowest rates in other developed countries, promising billions in savings for patients and taxpayers. But as the administration secures landmark deals with major pharmaceutical giants, critics point to a history of Democratic resistance.

Elisa Ballard
Dec 27, 20255 min read


Click Here for the Latest News Digest - December 20, 2025
President Trump's "Trump Accounts" initiative establishes tax-advantaged investment accounts for American children to build long-term wealth, modeled loosely on individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The program, enacted through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, provides a one-time $1,000 government seed deposit for U.S. citizen children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, with parents enrolling via a new IRS form during tax filing.

Elisa Ballard
Dec 20, 20258 min read


RFK Jr.'s Crusade Against Pharma TV Ads
As Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues his vocal campaign against direct-to-consumer (DTC) pharmaceutical advertising, the push to ban drug ads on television remains a contentious battleground in U.S. health policy. Kennedy, a longtime critic of the pharmaceutical industry, has made restricting these ads a cornerstone of his agenda under the Trump administration.

Rex Ballard
Dec 19, 20259 min read


San Francisco's Bold Strike Against Big Food
In a move that could reshape the American food industry, San Francisco has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against ten major manufacturers of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), accusing them of creating addictive products that have sparked a public health crisis. Echoing the epic battles against Big Tobacco in the 1990s, this case highlights how corporate strategies—rooted in historical ties between tobacco and food giants—have engineered overconsumption.

Rex Ballard
Dec 18, 20256 min read


"The Pineapple Express" is Coming to Town
As the holiday season ramps up, Mother Nature is delivering an early gift – or perhaps a soggy challenge – in the form of a classic Pineapple Express. This atmospheric river, named for its origins near Hawaii where it picks up tropical moisture, is set to drench the West Coast this week, bringing much-needed rain to drought-prone Northern California.

Rex Ballard
Dec 15, 20253 min read


What's With All The Fog Lately
A massive blanket of dense fog has enveloped much of California's Central Valley, including the Redding area, for over two weeks, marking one of the most prolonged and intense episodes in recent years. This phenomenon, known as tule fog—a type of radiation fog common in the region during winter—has reduced visibility to near zero in spots, lowered temperatures significantly, and raised safety concerns on roadways.

Rex Ballard
Dec 12, 20253 min read
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